Learn about Alzheimer's medications and daily care as well as treatment options for related behavorial and psychiatric symptoms.

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There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, but current therapies can help slow the progressive loss of brain cells, control symptoms, and postpone or prevent nursing home care.

Alzheimer’s Treatments: Primary Medications
Some of the most commonly used medicines are:

Cholinesterase inhibitors. Such drugs as donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne) prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical that is important for memory and thinking. By preserving high levels of this chemical messenger, the person may retain cognitive function longer. About 50 percent of patients on these medications see a modest improvement in cognitive symptoms.

Moderate-Affinity NMDA-Receptor Antagonist. The first of a new class of Alzheimer’s medications, memantine (Namenda) is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease. It seems to work by regulating glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain that triggers certain receptors to allow calcium into the nerve cells so the cells can produce the necessary chemical environment to process and store information.

Vitamin E: This nutrient helps brain cells defend against free radicals, a type of oxygen molecule that is a byproduct of chemical reactions in the cells. These molecules can damage cells and genetic material in a process called “oxidative stress,” which may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Medications can be prescribed to target specific symptoms. Physicians usually start with a low dose of a single drug to better monitor effectiveness and spot side effects. Alzheimer’s patients are prone to more serious medication side effects, including a slightly higher risk of death from anti-psychotic drugs, so the potential risks and benefits of any medication should be carefully considered.

Some medications used to treat behavioral and psychiatric symptoms are

In addition, Alzheimer’s patients with behavioral or psychiatric symptoms can be unpredictable, so safety precautions should be taken, such as equipping doors and gates with safety locks and locking up or removing guns or other dangerous items.

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